The Penguins Green Arena and the Igloo Blues

The Penguins are making some news today with the joint N.H.L. and HBO
announcement that the team will be part of what they call “an
innovative four-episode, all-access reality series,” chronicling the
run-up to the Jan. 1 Winter Classic outdoor game between the Penguins
and the Capitals at Heniz Field in Pittsburgh.

Last night, the Penguins played the first game in their new indoor
arena (a 5-1
preseason win over the Red Wings), giving the N.H.L. its first new
building since the Devils opened the Prudential Center in October
2007.

The Penguins will benefit financially from their new digs in a few
ways. First is an increase in seating, from the 16,940 to 18,087, which
includes an increase in high-priced club seats (from 1,696 to 2000)
suites (from 52 to 62 plus four party suites) and loge boxes (from none
to 32).

Seating is just one revenue stream. Kris
B. Mamula of The Pittsburgh Business Times reports, “David Peart,
vice president of business partnerships with the Penguins, declined to
release dollar amounts, but said sponsorship money can comprise 20
percent of the building’s revenue. That’s well above the 4 percent to 10
percent at a typical arena, according to David Synowka, director of
sport management at Robert Morris University.”

I find it funny that some people say that Price needs to take the heat from the idiotic, yet very loud, minority that are booing him.

Watching his interview today, it seems as though the teammates were more upset about it than Pricey was.

Price was very straightforward and owned up to his poor play but seriously, like he said, it’s the pre-season, it doesn’t count for ANYTHING. Anyway you want to slice it, this game will be forgotten as soon as the 1st game of the season.

You work out the quirks during the pre-season and you get ready for the 7th. It’s that simple.

There’s nothing snide about relaying the truth. It’s only the pre-season. It’s a fact.

He will come back better. I really think he had to get that first game out of the way. He knew what would happen and now he can focus on playing hockey. In fact, I’m glad this happened during a pre-season game so that he can move on during the REGULAR season, (you know, the one that counts), and play for real.

What do you want him to say? He got interviewed, was a real straight shooter with his answers, didn’t avoid questions and said what had to be said. It’s very ironic that fans can be frustrated with interviews like that when he has to deal with something far more aggravating from them.

It’s a very masochistic process when you boo your own players. You want them to win? How does booing them make that happen?

Who cares about his interviews, he’s not your mom. He’s not gonna snuggle you in at night and tell you there aren’t any monsters under your bed. Just move on to the next game and hope he plays better. That’s all.